International Student Employment and Accommodation Program (ISEAL)

Supporting international students for safe and fair work

Study Melbourne’s International Student Employment & Accommodation Legal (ISEAL) Program is delivered by the Migrant Workers Centre (MWC) in partnership with Inner Melbourne Community Legal (IMCL).

The ISEAL Program provides international students in Victoria with free access to legal help on employment and accommodation issues.

Employment issues

Legal help with work-related problems such as:

Wage theft, unpaid wages, and underpayment

Unfair dismissal

Workplace discrimination

Sham contracting

Certification of workplace exploitation matters (for visa-related protections)

Employment legal advice is delivered through ISEAL appointments with the Migrant Workers Centre.

Accommodation and tenancy issues

ISEAL also covers housing and tenancy matters, including eviction, rent, repairs and bond issues. Tenancy legal advice is delivered by Inner Melbourne Community Legal (IMCL). If your issue is about housing or accommodation, you should contact IMCL directly to access tenancy support by clicking here or by calling IMCL on 03 9328 1885.

What to expect at your legal advice appointment

Your ISEAL appointment is a one-off, free, confidential legal advice session with a qualified lawyer. Appointments usually run for 60–90 minutes

During the appointment, the lawyer will:

Explain your legal rights and obligations

Talk through your options and likely outcomes

Help you understand any important deadlines

Suggest next steps you can take

If able, assist with simple legal tasks where appropriate, such as reviewing documents or drafting basic emails or letters

In some cases, we may be able to provide additional assistance after the first appointment. This depends on factors such as the urgency and seriousness of the issue, your individual circumstances, and service capacity. There is no guarantee that you will receive ongoing assistance beyond the initial advice appointment. Any further support is decided by the legal service after assessing your situation.

Who can access ISEAL

You can access this service if you:

Are on a Student visa (subclass 500) or on a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), and

Are living or working in Victoria, and

Have an employment or accommodation issue.

How to access legal help

For employment issues

Appointments are available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and every second Friday from 9am to 5pm. You can make a booking by:

Calling the Study Melbourne Hub (1800 056 449), or
Calling the Migrant Workers Centre (03 7009 6710), or
Attend the Study Melbourne Hub for a drop-in appointment on Mondays and Wednesdays at 3:30pm. No booking is required, but appointment is subject to availability.

Drop-in appointments are limited to one per day and are first come, first served. If you'd like to book an appointment, please call us.

For accommodation issues

Appointments are available on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and every second Friday from 9am to 5pm. You can make a booking by:

Calling the Study Melbourne Hub (1800 056 449), or
Calling Inner Melbourne Community Legal (03 9328 1885).
Attend the Study Melbourne Hub for a drop-in appointment on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:30pm. No booking is required, but appointment is subject to availability.

Free employment sessions for international students

The Migrant Workers Centre will be hosting a range of career-readiness workshops, designed to get you ready for employment, and useful tools to make you prepared for job interviews.

“The Work Ready program helps international students in Victoria build employability skills and understand their workplace rights. Many arrive unsure about things like superannuation, penalty rates, or the difference between a TFN and an ABN.” - Andres, International Student Worker Advocate

“After our sessions, students feel more confident applying for jobs and relieved to have personalised guidance that recognises their individual experiences. My hope is that every student walks away knowing their rights and how to present themselves with confidence.” - Andres, International Student Worker Advocate

“When I first arrived in Australia, I needed a job but didn’t know where to start or how my skills would fit the local market. After meeting with Andres at the Study Melbourne Hub, I became more aware of my strengths and how the job market works here. - Lucas, International Student